This is a piece I wrote for Exhalenow.com — they approached me for a paid piece and it was a blast to do!

I live in the Midwest and the weather has a tendency of saying, “Oh, you think you can’t have all four seasons in one week? Here – hold my beer!” When those times occur our allergies are hit full force. Over the years I’ve researched more organic/homeopathic ways of controlling our seasonal allergies. Then I discovered essential oils (Young Living) and they changed my entire family’s life during allergy season.

Essential oils have been used for ages. They date back to biblical times and were seen and used as the treasures they truly are. It takes 22 minutes for a 100% therapeutic grade essential oil to process through every cell in your body. That’s just insane. I was skeptic at first but after a great deal of research and finding the right brand for my family, I took the dive and invested in an entire line of essential oils.

Along with me and my husband, both of our kids suffer from seasonal allergies. We’ve taken different types of allergy medicines throughout our lives, but just taking a pill won’t make the symptoms go away. We needed to change something else; we needed the extra support and boost to be able to survive the wrath of the Midwest seasons.

What I am about to say is only based off my experience with the brand Young Living, this is very important to know because all essential oil brands are different. There are three different ways you can use essential oils. You can diffuse them in a home diffuser, apply them topically, or ingest them. There are four oils that are key to allergy support; Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, and RC. Here are two of my favorite ways to use these oils:

Diffusing

• Add three drops of Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint to your home diffuser. Diffusing the EO’s (essential oils) will fill the house with their organic aroma. This will benefit everyone in the whole house who is breathing in the air. Boom! Two birds with one stone!

• You can also boil water, add the three EO’s, put a small towel over your head, and inhale the oils. This works really well when your allergies are getting pretty rough. The towel traps the moisture, heat, and oils. This helps with releasing sinus pressure and opening up the chest and nasal passages.

Topically

• Essential oils are applied to your pressure points, such as your temples, wrists, bottom of feet, neck, and behind your ears. These points are the fastest way for the oils to enter your system.

• Roller balls are the best thing ever for essential oils! They are super easy to make and very kid friendly! If you are making a roller ball for allergies or applying them topically you will need a carrier oil. Carrier oils dilute essential oils, which is what you want for your kiddos! Add about seven drops of each oil in a 10ML roller ball and then fill the rest with a carrier oil (grapeseed, almond, rose hip, or coconut oil).

If your allergies are becoming intense and congested I suggest using the essential oil blend RC by Young Living. I swear by this oil. It is part of my “First Aid Kit”. RC stands for Respiratory Congestion. The oils blend contains Marjoram for warming, Lavender for calming, Cypress for circulation, Peppermint for invigorating, Spruce, Eucalyptus, and Pine for respiratory support, and Myrtle for fighting infections. I put about three drops of that in my hands with a carrier oil and rub it all over my chest like a name brand vapor rub.

Essential oils can support you through the tough seasons of allergies, without all the toxins from the over the counter stuff that has things in it we can’t even pronounce. I have seen it firsthand. It’s important to keep your kids involved when teaching them about how to use these oils and what they can do to support your body, because just like everything else in their lives, we want them to be educated in what they are putting into their bodies. Now both of my kids have their very own roller balls tucked away in their back packs for whenever they feel their allergies coming on. You might win with the weather Midwest, but we are now prepared for your wrath.

Tuesday was a big day for Jordan. She had been counting down the days until she got to chop off her hair. She has always had long, gorgeous, curly hair. People comment on it all the time. They always tell her what beautiful hair she has or “There are people that would pay a lot of money for that hair!” and when she was younger she would usually just blush and hide behind me.

I had a little talk with her when she began kindergarten and explained a lot of people are going to comment on her hair most likely the rest of her life. She is very lucky to have such beautiful hair and when people tell you that, you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Jordan asked what she should say to people when they comment on her hair and I told her you just smile and say, “Thank you”. I mean, the girl can walk through Target and be stopped like three times, I’m sure she was dying to find out a way to handle the “awkward” conversation about her hair with complete strangers. She’s very outgoing, don’t get me wrong. She enjoys talking about herself just as much as the next diva second grader, but to be complimented, at least to me, has always made me feel weird and stuck about what to say, especially when it is said by a complete stranger. I figured a little pep talk wouldn’t hurt, and to this day she still smiles at strangers and tells them thank you. Proud mama moment right there.

So when people asked her if she was ever going to cut her hair, her answer has always been, “No way. Nope. Never.” End of conversation. I never pushed it, even though her hair is a pain in the BUTT to maintain. I’m talking special brushes, shampoo, conditioner, the whole works. The second I realized she was going to have super curly hair when she was younger I began the research on how to take care of it, and there is one reason why. I grew up with a girl who had hair just like Jordan’s hair but this girl didn’t take care of it. She didn’t detangle it, deep condition it, or even TRY to save her curls from being fried from heat damage. I was determined Jordan’s hair would NEVER look like this girls, not as long as I was around.

A couple months ago Jordan was hit with lice…twice. It was mortifying for everyone involved. Her hair was not the easiest to comb through or to get every single little bugger out of there. Even talking about this is making me itch. After the last time she had it, she asked me, “Did I do something wrong to get lice? James told me it was because of the kind of hair I have.” I sat there for a minute, contemplating if I wanted to ring her brother’s neck out now or later because he knew better than to say that to her, but I told her that it was not her fault, and she’s not dirty, and it’s not because she has long curly hair. All different types of hair can get lice and her brother was a butthead and to just ignore him. “Trust me, Jo. I grew up with two little butthead brothers who are now just two BIG butthead brothers.” She then informed me she wanted to cut her hair short but it had nothing to do with what James had said. I told her alright and set the date for the hair appointment.

The second we walked in the door to the salon Jordan ran right over to Mandy and told her how she wanted her hair done and she wanted to cut it SHORT. Mandy looked over at me and I just nodded and pointed to just below her shoulders. As of then, her hair went down to her butt. “Okay big girl! That’s a big change, are you ready!?”, Jordan just smiled and said, “I was born ready!”

Two hours later we had the finished product! Every time she gets her hair cut, I tell her she can have it blown out straight. It doesn’t happen but once a year so I figured, why not let the girl have it straight. She will be able to use an actual brush and play with it a lot more than she does now. Her hair when it’s curly will hit just below her shoulders, but man does it still look SO LONG! This was a big step for her and I was so proud at how she was so “Whatever it’s just hair” mentality about the whole process.

“Do you like my hair curly or straight better?” She asked me after she jumped out of the chair. I just looked at her in the eyes and told her, “You look beautiful no matter how your hair looks.” She rolled her eyes and said, “Mom that’s what you’re suppose to say.”

I was talking with my Dad earlier last week and he asked me what I had going on the following week. I mentioned that Matt was leaving for Florida on Monday afternoon until Thursday night, so the kids were going to be my little Valentines this year. “Valentine’s Day is next week?” He said. “I better go buy Marilyn flowers on Thursday.”

He says these things every year. My dad is very much against Hallmark holidays and to him Valentine’s Day is one of those. “I don’t need a special reason to buy my wife flowers, so that’s why I’m going to do it on a Thursday. And when she asks me why I bought her flowers I’m going to say, because it’s Thursday.” He’s a funny man, but he has a very valid point. Who needs a certain day out of the year to tell their significant other that they love them? You should be showing your love in your own way every day anyways. At least that’s what I think a relationship should be like.

I’m not saying “bah humbug” to the whole thing, I love LOVE. I love talking about love, I love being in love, I love sharing my love, I truly just love to love. I love writing my husband little notes throughout the year and sticking them in his work bag or showing up at the kid’s school to pick them up on a hot day with slurpees waiting for them in the back seat. I love being able to find little knick-knack’s in a store and giving it to a friend just because it reminded me of them. To me, that means more than a box of Russell Stover chocolates and over priced flowers.

I love a good love letter though. Something truly from the heart. My husband knows that a heartfelt love letter inside a card means more to me than anything he could buy. So when he was getting ready to leave for Florida I went out and bought him a silly Valentine’s Day card, wrote a poem inside, then stuck it in his luggage. I figured he had so much on his plate this week that a card was probably the last thing on his mind, oh but was I wrong. I went to put on my sweats last night and laying on my pillow was a pink card addressed to me.

Jess,

You are my beginning, middle, and end of my story! You are my all and everything. All we have accomplished lately is truly awesome. Being together, doing together. You are the love of my life, my best friend, soul mate, and partner in crime. You are my Valentine, Mrs Valentino! I love you very much.

Love Always,

Matt

*cue the water works*

Even though I don’t “believe” in the huge gift giving, chocolates, and flowers on Valentine’s Day — I’m truly thankful I have a man who knows exactly what I do want, words that come straight from the heart. And if he was here, we would be spending it on the couch, in our sweats, watching Netflix with a cold craft beer.

What are your thoughts about Valentine’s Day? Are you a big celebrator or do you keep it low key?

Growing up Sunday’s were always all about church. We would all pile into the mini van and head to Sunday Sacrament that began at 9 AM and went until noon. The five of us would file down the pew and I would look up next to the organ to see what the hymns were. Every Sunday I would look up and check if my favorite hymns were chosen. My all time favorite is How Great Thou Art. Every time I sang this hymn in church I could feel the presence of God around me and the warmth of love surrounding me.

I’ve heard the song redone by many artist and choirs. I’m going to have to say that Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill’s version is hands down the best. You can feel her belief in every word she sings. It’s exactly what I needed to hear this Sunday.

For some reason I felt the need to share this with you all today. Just a feeling I have. Maybe someone out there needed to hear this hymn today too.

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow with humble adoration,
And then proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

A while back I was folding clothes in our bedroom and Jordan was sitting on our bed matching the socks. She asked me what the picture frame was with the letter in it. I told her that it was Daddy’s wedding vows to me. She then of course asked if she could read it. I told her I would love for her to read it and asked if she would read it out loud. Jordan grabbed the frame and began to read:

“Well here we are! I can’t believe the day is finally here. I can’t believe I’m looking into the eyes of my wife. I love you for your intelligence, your beauty, your kindness…and for the way you always know how to make me feel so special. You always know how to make me laugh and you are everything I ever wanted in a woman.

In your eyes, I have found my home.

In your heart, I have found my love.

When I am with you, I am whole, full, alive.

You are my breath, my every heartbeat.

I promise to always catch you when you fall and be there to cheer you on when you’re at your best.

I promise to laugh with you in the good times and cry with you during the bad times.

So on top of all the vows I will make here on our wedding day, I also vow to always appreciate how lucky I am to have someone who makes me feel the way you do and to continue to try as hard as I can to make you feel as special as you make me feel, forever and ever.

I am yours.

You are mine.

We are certain of this.

I love you to the moon and back.”

I watched her read every word perfectly and I watched the words register in her head. The tears were falling down her little cheeks when she said, “Mom, that was so nice and so beautiful. Daddy loves you so much and so do I. We got really lucky to have you as a Mom.”

I have had a lot of friends ask me about essential oils lately! Some had got essential oils for Christmas and others purchased a diffuser, but now don’t know what to do with it. Then there are some that have heard of essential oils but don’t know how they work or what they exactly do, but want to know more about the basics of how to get started. I have been using Young Living oils for almost a year now and it has changed my life and my families life completely!

Out of curiosity, how many of you are interested in learning more about essential oils and what they can do for you and your family in your day to day life?

Every year when the weather changes Matt and I have some serious allergy problems. Sneezing, sniffing, coughing, sinus pressure, pretty much just feeling like crap. We started using essential oils every day and every night, rubbing a combination of oils that relieved our allergy symptoms. It kept us moving throughout the day without dragging our feet! Didn’t have to take one allergy pill last year! Not ONE!

I’m here to share with all of you these amazing products and help guide you through your journey of exploring this phenomenal world of essential oils! I feel like I have this huge secret that I just have to share, it’s really that life changing!

For questions or wanting more information about oils you can drop me a comment with your email address and/or question or you can email me directly at notheaveragemama@gmail.com

A great highlight about learning about the Young Living oils is you can do it all from your computer! Technology is amazing and has given the opportunity to share about these oils world wide. We never even have to meet in person for you to buy/start using your starter kit! It’s as easy as a click of a button and after that the endless support and information will keep flowing in! You will have an amazing support system to help guide you through this life changing opportunity!

Real talk. At this very moment, I hate being a woman. These lovely cramps that make their monthly debut feel like someone is carving out my insides. I mean, women shouldn’t be messed with. We can bleed for five days and not die. THAT takes real strength right there.

I use to take every pain killer known to man for my cramps since I started my period. I have had 24 mm cysts form on my ovaries and have to be surgically removed. I have had multiple cysts burst which caused the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. I dread this week every month of the year. I have tried everything to regulate the pain. I got to the point where I couldn’t take the hard core narcotics anymore. I just started to deal with the pain every month and if that meant having to call off work or spend the day crying in bed from pain, then so be it.

When I first started oils I immediately looked up oils for menstrual cramps and severe PMS. (I literally felt like I was a raging bitch every month and anyone who crossed me was dead to me — seriously, I was horrible.) I found an oil by Young Living called Dragon Time. It’s suppose to help with PMS symptoms and your menstrual cycle. I was skeptical. Of course I was skeptical. I have tried every drug out there known to man to take these cramps away and you’re telling me a single oil could solve my problem?

I did a little more research and found another oil blend called PanAway by Young Living. PanAway is what they like to call, “Pain Away”. It is suppose to help with any sort of pain. You just rub it wherever it hurts. Hmm…I could mix the PanAway and the Dragon Time and see if it works.

I waited for Aunt Flow to arrive and the cramps to kick in and started my experiment with my two new period cramp crusher oils. I counted three drops of each oil, mixed it with my coconut oil, and rubbed it around my abdomen and back where my cramps effect me the most. I laid down on the couch and put the heating pad on me and waited for the magic to happen. The first thirty minutes I had little relief and started to become a little agitated. I didn’t give up because I remember reading that I had to keep reapplying the oils every few hours for my body to begin to work with the oils.

After my second application I started to feel a cooling relief. Are you kidding me?! All of this time I was pumping my body with pain medicine and I could of just used essential oils for the relief?! That is just crazy talk. My mood swings during the week weren’t complete outbursts. I even asked my husband and though he was hesitant at first to answer he said he did notice a change in how I wasn’t snapping. I’m not saying I was the perfect wife and mother after applying the Dragon Time and PanAway, but I wasn’t biting everyone’s heads off for just looking at me. I call that a win in my book.

I’m not trying to sell you on anything, but I know what it’s like to look for alternative health care that doesn’t involve pills that make your body feel like crap. I wanted to find a more natural/organic way of dealing with this week of my life every month that I will never be able to escape.

Any other women out there struggling with similar issues? What do you do to deal with your death gripping cramps each month?

Long before our girl Oprah was doing yoga in a black spandex onesie on her lawn, I was on Weight Watchers. I loved it because I was on a diet but I could still have junk food. I was like a CIA operative when it came to finding sweet, guilt-free treats that I could fit into my daily points. Until one day when my skills backfired. Literally. Like, fire came out of my backside.

Settle down, O. We got it.

It was a gorgeous, sunny, summer Friday and I was scheduled to head home from my publishing job in Manhattan at 1:00. I’d been good on my diet all week so I decided to hit up Duane Reade on the way to work to do some WW friendly intel in the candy aisle. I spotted a small bag of Jelly Belly Sugar-Free SOURS and flipped over the bag to check out the calories. It was 200…